Outcome 4: personal and community support

People with disability, their families and carers have access to a range of supports to assist them to live independently and actively engage in their communities.

Action 1: Expand the National Disability Insurance Scheme Trial in SA to around 5,000 children aged from birth to 14 years, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.

Lead responsibility: Disability SA

Timeframe: 30 June 2016

Measurable target: SA Government commitments met as required by the National Disability Insurance Scheme Intergovernmental Agreement.

Action 2: Review the government's contributions to the financial arrangements for supported residential facilities to ensure delivery of a transparent and accountable subsidy scheme, consistent with other government programs and funding mechanisms.

Action 3: Transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), initially through Child and Youth Services (CYS) by developing service offers and business systems to enable families to have the choice of CYS under the NDIS.

Lead responsibility: Disability Services

Timeframe: 30 June 2015

Measurable target: People with disability in South Australia choose Department for Communities and Social Inclusion as their service provider.

The guideline for staff about working with clients with challenging behaviours is developed and available to staff.

Action 5: Provide opportunities for clients with disability living on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands to enhance their life experiences and connections to the community.

Lead responsibility: Community Services

Timeframe: Annually

Measurable target: Annual trip for clients organised and funded.

Action 6: Develop a state framework to address the resilience and safety needs of vulnerable communities, including people with disability, in disasters.

Lead responsibility: State Recovery

Timeframe: 31 December 2016

Measurable target: State framework, signed off by the State Mitigation Advisory Group (SMAG) and the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC).

Action 7: Build an implementation plan for South Australia incorporating tested and successful strategies to build resilience and safety in vulnerable communities. This plan will encompass the needs of people with disability from the planning to the recovery stages of disasters.

Lead responsibility: State Recovery Office

Timeframe: 30 June 2017

Measurable target: An implementation plan endorsed by SMAG and SEMC that provides strategies to identify individuals and build resilience and safety in vulnerable communities.

Individualised funding leads to real choices

Individualised funding gives clients of Disability Services the option of using their personal budget to purchase disability services or disability-related items of their choice. These choices may include supports to assist them to live independently, to stay living with family, to develop or improve skills and capabilities, to have more opportunities to participate in the community and expand their networks and to improve their wellbeing.

Therese decided that she would like to live independently just as her friends did, so she used her personal budget to move from the family home into her own place. By being part of the Individualised Funding Program, Therese was able to purchase the support she needed to maintain her house and enjoy her life.